Ball-operated toy



Dec. 4,1945.

O. F. LARSEN, JR BALL-OPERATED TOY Filed Dec. 23, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR. I w OLAI FLARSEN JR.

A I TORNEY 1945- o. F. LARSEN, JR; 2,390,442

' BALL-OPERATED TOY Filed Dec. 23, 1944 2 Sheets-She-t 2 A uvvmrox OLA! F.LAQSENJR..

BY Y

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 4, 1945 BALL-OPERATED TOY Olai. F. Larsen, Jr., Demarest, N. J., assignor to Noma Electric Corporation, New York, N..Y., a

corporation of New York ApplioationiDecember 23, 1944; Serial No. 569,533

, a 1'6 Claims. This invention relates to ball-operated toys.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, rugged and inexpensive toy having aseriesor ball carriers continuously ascending and descending in a timed relationship which is'govemedbythe descent of balls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy of the character described having a novel mechanism for feeding the balls to the ball carriers.

Qther objects of this invention will in part be tures of' construction, combinations of elements andarrangement of-parts which will be exemplified= in the construction hereinafter described, andof which the scope ofapplication will be indicated in the claims.

In-the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a front view, partly broken away, of a toy embodying my invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views takensubstantia-lly along the lines 2---2, 3-3 and 44, respectively, of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

In general, I carry out my invention by providing a toy with a structural element such as a tower which hasa base, and an elevated station where balls are adapted to be fed alternately into a pair of balanced ball carriers. These carriers are mounted" for travel toward and away from the feeding station, being interconnected insuch fashion that approach of one carrier causes the other carrier to recede from said station. A ballpropelling mechanism at the feeding station is actuated by a carrier coming near said station to sweep a ball from said station into the approaching carrier. As thisis being accomplished, the receding carrier dumps its ball, so that the carrier being loaded at the feeding station ceases to approach and starts to recede, causing the other carrier (now empty) to approach the feeding station and receive another ball. Thus the toy'will continue in operation as long as balls are supplied to the feeding station.

Referring now in detail to the figures, H) denotes a toy embodying my invention and, comprising a base l2 and tower or post I4, which are detachably secured to each other by a dowel-pin It to facilitate disassembly and shipping of the toy.

The base includes a base board l8 having a rim 20 and is provided with a plurality of aperq tures 22 on either side of the tower. These apertures are closed at the bottom by plates 24 of sheet material, A bell 26 ma also be provided X at each end of the base board. The purpose of the apertures and detail.

The tower is constructed from two side boards 28; 390f the same outline, which are secured to each other in spaced parallel relationship by a central strip 32 and a top board 34; The strip 32 extends from slightly abovethe pins It to an elevatedfeeding station F located at a point well below the top board 34 so as to provide sufficient space beneath said top board to accommodate a ball-propelling mechanism hereinafter described. The bottom edges ofboth side boards have short, wide, downward extensions 36 which are slidablyreceived in matching apertures 38 in the base board l8 to prevent rocking of the tower I4. It will be anpreciatedthat the foregoing specific; construction of the tower and base board are given merely by way of example and that any other arrangement of parts which will provide a stable elevated feeding station can be satisfac-' torily employed in conjunction with the practice of my invention.

The, toy is provided with a pair of balanced ball carriers, such as the cars 40, 42, and, optionally, with means on the tower to guide the cars for movement between predetermined upper and lower positions. A satisfactory arrangement is to have the cars suspended from opposite ends of a cable which runs over an element disposed near the feeding station, so that when one of the cars receives a ball it will descend; overbalancing the other car (which is empty) and raising it up in the air,

In the illustrated embodimentof my invention, each of said cars includes two side plates 44, 46 secured in spaced parallel relationship bywan upper horizontal bar 48 and a body 50. A horizontal dowel pin 52 in the body adjacent the bottom thereof projects laterall on both sides of the car, the projecting extending portions being received in aligned vertical slots 54, 56 in the tower side boards 28, 30, thus guiding the cars during their vertical ascent and descent. The cars are connected to each other by a string 58, the ends ofwhich are tied to theupper bars 48 at approximately the center thereof, so thatthe cars will hang levelly: from the string. The string runs over a sheave 60 carried on a shaft 62 rotatably mounted near the top of the tower in apertures 64 in the side boards28; 30.

bell will be describedlater in It will be appreciated that with the foregoing construction, as one car is caused to descend it be understood that said cars may be. soarranged as to go up and down on the "same side of the tower.

As mentioned above, the cars, either independently or in conjunction with the guide means therefor, must be so operable that upon reaching their lowermost position they will act to dump the balls carried thereby. This may be accomplished by providing a dump bottom actuated by a stationary member positioned in the path of travel of each car and near its lowermost position; Alternatively, each car may, as shown, be ,so arranged that it will overbalance upon reaching its lowermost position and discharge-its ball. To effect this latter operation, the bodies 50 of the cars each has an interior surface comprising two walls 66, 68 so positioned inthe car that when the car is suspended by the string from the upper bar 48; both of said walls will slope upwardly from their juncture. cars dangling at the'ends of the string areable toretain balls. Preferably, the balance of the suspended car is suchand the juncture between the two side walls, where a ball will naturally rest, is so disposed relative-t the upper bar 48 that the center of gravity of a ball deposited in a car will be vertically beneath the. upper bar 48 without the car appreciably shifting from its empty position. However, in no case should theside walls and disposition of the juncture therebetween be such that deposit of a ball of a size and Weight normally used-in the toy will cause either wall, and-particularly'theoutwardly extending wall 68 to slant downwardly from. the juncture away from the horizontal.- The inner wall 66 may be rather. short, asshown, if the car is designed to ride close. to the center rib 32, a1th0ugh suchlengthof the inner wall is not characteristic of the toy.

During-downwarddescentof a car, the extending portions of the pin 52 are adapted to 'simul-.

taneously strike against the bottoms of the slots 54,46 before the pin .on the other car reaches its uppermost position. .I'I'hiswill cause. the descending car, which was previously in stable equilibrium, while suspended rom the string, to assume a.

the slots 54, 56, it will tip to a position Where the. outerwall 68 slopes downwardly belowtthe hori-' zontal from" the juncture between the two walls 66, 68,.causing theball to be discharged. As the lowermost car tilts, it will raise the ascending car.

a The string 58- is of such length as to limit the tilting of the discharging car by abutment. of the extending portions of.-the pins of the rising car with'the top of theslots 54,.56 on the opposite side of thetower.-- Such limitedposition of the discharging car-is shown byth-e car 49 in Fig. 1. As-soon as the contents "of the car is discharged, the car will be righted by the balancing weight of the opposite car, said opposite carthereupon descending somewhat from its uppermost positionshownin Fig. 1.

"It may be further pointed out with respect to the construction of the cars and sheave that 2h? Owing to this construction, the

various portions thereof may be so relatively dimensioned and assembled that as the cars dangle at the end of the string, the extending portions of the pins 52 do not bear too heavily, if at all, on the edges of the slots 54, 56, thus reducing the friction impeding the fall and rise of the cars.

The toy is operated by a plurality of balls B whichv are led to .the feedingstation FL- .The toy is soconstructed; as will soon be see'npthat it will continue to runas long as'ballsare fed to it. Accordingly, I provide a magazine for the balls and a chute leading from the magazine to the feeding station. As shown here, said magazine,

chute and feeding station may comprise different portions of atrough 1 0 having an end secured within the tower, and the balance extending there tom edge 18 of a stop 80 secured to the side board 3i] opposite to the side board 28 through which the trough extends. the trough has the side walls 12, 14 materially cut away to leave only a slight groove 82 (Fig. '5) which, although it will serve to keep in position the foremost ball resting against the stop 80,- will not substantially hinder its lateral displacement whena sidewise thrust is applied to said ball.

The trough, however, is not cutaway sufficiently to permit the ball in back of said foremost ball to be displaced laterally when such a sidewise thrust is applied to said foremost ball.

Inaddition, the side board 28 is so disposed relative to the ball immediately in back of the fore.

most ball as to prevent appreciable sidewise movement of said following :ball. 1 Said-side board 28 is provided with an aperture 82" atthe point where the trough extends therethrough,

thereby to permit balls' B to run freely intothe toy. a v

The cut-away portion of the trough occupied by the foremost ball comprises the feeding. star tion," the portion of the trough occupied by the immediately next following ball constitutes the trough constitutes chute, and the balance of the the ball magazine.

Pursuant to my invention, I provide a mechanism for propelling the ball at the feeding sta tion into whichever car is approaching said sta tion. Said mechanism comprises a propelling element and means to operate said element in such timed relationship to the movement of the cars that as each carapproaches the feeding sta--.

tion a ball will be forced from the feeding station into'said-ascending car to reverse the direc-1 tion of travel thereof and cause the same to recede from the feeding station.

More specifically, said operating means com-' prises a pair of abutment elements'connected to.

said propelling element in such fashion that when said propelling element'is disposed to one side ofa ball at the feeding station,--a-car mov-- ingto one of its extreme positions will strike one of said abutment elements and cause. it to move the propelling element tothe other sideof Said interiorly disposed end of.

elementto its first named position? and at such" time sweep: the next ball at the feeding stationinto the other car approaching the same shown? herein, said propelling mechanism ineludes a weight 84 (the operating means) in the form of 'a plate "P mounted on a s-haft 85 which isjournaledat its opposite ends in apertures 88 in the side boards 28', 38. Said plate supports a propelling arms 90- which is adapted to sweepin a path crossing the position of. the ball at the, feeding station. The plate 84 is of such construction that- When the propelling arm is neargvertical position, pointing downwardly, from the shaft 86', said weight is in unstableequilibrium.

Means is also provided to limit the rotary movement of the shaftgweight and propellingarm, Said means-maycomprise a stop on a stationary; part of the toyywhich is adapted to cooperate with abutment members carried bythe ar m sh-a;f t or weight. In the instant embodiment of the invention, said motion-limiting means ineludesa pair of spaced lobes 92, 94 whose upperedges areadapted to abut alternately the shaft- 1 6 2 "on which the sheave B is mounted.

Saidiobesyare so p-ositioned that'when either one abutsisaid shaft, the propelling arm is clear of the ball at the feeding station being disposed tonne-side or the other thereof The plate is' additionally provided with abut ment elements, engageable by eithercar as it approaches the feeding statiomto urge said'plate tea; position in which its center of gravity is on the side of the shaft 85 Opposite to that on which theascending car is disposed} Such abutment elements comprise the nodes 96, 98 on the lower edge of the plate 84, which are of such configuration that the node which is disposed lowermost at any: given time will lie in the patrrofftravel' qf qthe horizontal bar 48 of an ascending car.

Said nodes, furthermore, are so dimensioned that as the car reaches its uppermost position, the plate willbe pushed over far enough to cause the propellingmember 90 to topple a ball from the feeding station F into the ascending car. At suchtime the center of gravity of the plate may have alreadycrossed to the side of the'shaft 86 opposite to that on whichthe car is ascendingor the'momentum of the plate-will carry it to such position. Thereupon the plate, being in unstable eguilibrium, will continue to turn until halted'by abutment of one'of its lobes 92; 94 against the pulley shaft 62. In this positionthe propelling member will clear the feeding station so as to allow the next ballto gravitate to said station and will be in proper position upon the next actuation of the plate to sweep said ballinto' the car ascending the opposite side of the tower.

The toy operatesin the following; manner:

A number of' balls are deposited in the m'aga two, and preferably many more, balls should be inserted inthe trough. before the toy is put into operation. To start the toy going, one of the cars is brought down into its lowermost vertical positionw'ith the extending portions of the pin 5laresting against the lower endsof theslots 54,

The remainl extends.

56'; i The car which is broughtdownis on the sideof thewto'wer from which the propellingarm- =90 For example; if g the propelling armwere in the position shown in Fig.1, the toy can" be started by bringing down the car 42. i This will first raise the car 40 to a position shown by thedotand'-dash lines in Fig. 1 whenthe car 42 reached its'lowermost vertical position. Then the car 42 is tilted outwardly about the pin 52,

T further raising th'e car4 0. During this last phase of its'movement, the bar 48 of the car 40 will en-- gage the bottom edge 98' of the plate 84 andmove the propelling arm into contact with the ball resting against the stop and topple said ball into: The top-heavy plate will then swing over to its other extreme position on the ascending car 40.

the opposite side of the tower, breaking engage ment between the bar 4 8 -and edge 98,- pl'acing;theedge 96 in position t be engaged by the bar 48 ofth car 42 when it next ascends, and moving? the propelling member to a position clearingthe feeding station so as to permit the-next ball-to run down againstthe sto 80.-

When the ball fallsinto the car 40, said car will overbalance' the car 42 so that the car 40 will descend, raising the car 42; When the extending ends of the pin 52 in the car- 40strike-the bottom ends of-the associatedslots 54, 56, the;

momentum of the car and ball and-the fact that the-center of gravityof said'carandball is disposed slightly outwardly of the pin 52, will cause the carto tilt outwardly about said-pinuntil the wallv 68'slopes downwardly, whereupon th'eballwill be discharged on to the base board; The ball" will run toward and possibly strike the be1l .26. The ball may also find its way into one of the holes 22, a possible objector the operation of the, toy beingto obtain scores depending into which'holes one or more of the balls fall. i

1 As the car 40 i tilting to discharge its contents; itwill cause' the' horizontal bar 48 ofthesides' 44; 46 of the cars.

car 42 to engage and raisethe edge 96' of the plate- 84. As a result, the propelling arm, Will sweepin anopposite direction to force the next ball, which was-formerly in the chute and isnow against the stop, into the car 42. The car 42 willthen descend, raising the car 40, and'the cycle ofoprationwill be repeated as long as a ball at" the feeding station. r

With the tower vertical and the cars on opporsite sides thereof, th'eaction of this toy resembles th well-known nursery rhyme Hickory-dick cry-dock. by placing the facsimiles I of a mouse on-the To further carry o'ut: this resemblance, the exterior surfaces of theside board 28, 39 around the pulley shaft 62 may be; provided with numerals or the like in the same manner as the dial of a clock, and said shaft 62 may protrude from said side boards and carry arms I32, which are securedthereto so as to turn with the shaft when the shaft is rotated by pas- Sage-0f the string 58- around the same upon upand-down movement of the cars. If desired, a. second hand I04 may be provided on each of said shafts, one to either side thereof. These hands, however, may be rotatable relative to said shafts, sothat they can either always be pointing downwardly or be .fixed at some other hour, for example, one oclock. v e

It will thus be seen that thereis provided a toy in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use. i e As various possible embodiments might be made Suchresemblance can b enhancedoi theabove inventi'om-and as various changes V might bel mada {the-embodiment above set" forth, itis to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown inthe accompanying drawings isto be interpreted as illustrative and n'ot ina limiting sense. I

I-Ia'ving'-thusdescribed my invention, I claim as new-and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1; AbaH-operated toy comprising a feeding station "having one entrance and two discharge points,{means to support the station in elevated p'osition,--aball magazine, means to lead balls from said magazine to said feeding station, a ball-propelling mechanism mounted to sweep back and forth through the=spaceoccupied by' a ball at said station whereby to engage a-ball at saidstation and push the same out of one or the other discharge point, and means operable by a is empty, means to interconnect said carriers so.

that approach of either carrier to said station causes the other carrier to recede therefrom, a ball magazine, means to lead balls from said magazineto said'feeding station, a ball propelling mechanism mounted to sweep back and forth through the space occupied by a ball at said station whereby to engage a ball at said station and push the same in either one of two directions away therefrom, said propelling mechanism being actuable by a carrier approaching said station to push a ball into the latter carrieryand said cycle willbe repeated as long as balls are led to said support. a t

4. A ball-operated toy comprising a base, a post,

a pair of ball carriers of approximately equal-- weight, means to guide each of said carriers upand down said post between an uppermost and' a lowermost osition, means operable to raise either of said carriers when the other descends, a ball magazine, a ball stop, means to support a' ball resting against said stop, means to lead balls one at a time from said magazine to said ballsupport, means to maintain a ball on said sup port in such manner that the ball can be pushed off said support to either side thereof, a propelling member mounted to sweep back and forth through the space occupied by a, ball on said support whereby to engage a ball on said support and push the same in either one of two directions off the support, means operable by either carrier as it approaches its uppermost position to actuate said propelling member so as to push a ball offsaid support into said ascending carrier, and means to discharge a ball from either carrier as it approaches its lowermost position, whereby a carrier fter receiving a ball in its raised position,

will descend to unload its contents, and at the same time raise the other carrier in position to' actuate the propelling member to push a ball into the latter carrier, and said cycle will be repeated as long as balls are led to said support.

5. A ball-operatedtoy comprising a base,'a post,

a pair of ball carriers of approximately equal weight, means to guide each of said carriers up and down said tower between an uppermost and a lowermost position, means operable to] raiseeither of said carriers when the other descends, a ball magazine, a ball stop, means tosupporta ball resting against said stop, means to lead balls sweep a ball from said station into the approaching carrier, and means to discharge a ball from either carrier as the other carrier approaches the station, whereby car after receiving a ball when near the feeding station will recede therefrom causing the other car to-approach the station and receive-a ball while the ball is dumped from the first car so that the cycle will be repeated as long as balls are led to the feeding station.

3; A ball-oper'atedtoy comprising a base, a post, a pair'of ball carriers of approximately equal weight mounted for movement toward and away from the top of the post, means operable to raise eitherv of said carriers when the other descends, a' ball magazine, a ball stop, means to support a ball resting against said stop, means to lead balls one at a time from said magazine to said ball support, means to maintain a ball on said support in such manner that the ball can be pushed off said support to either side thereof, a propelling member mounted to sweep back and forth through the space occupied by a ball on said support whereby to engage a ball on said support nd push the same in either one of two directions off the support, means operable by either carrier as it approaches its uppermost osition to actuate said propelling member so as to push'a ball 01f said support into said ascending carrier, and means to discharge a ball from either carrier as it approaches its lowermost position, whereby a carrier after receiving a ball in its raised position, will descend to unload its contents, and at the same time raise the other carrier in position to actuate the propelling member to one at a time from said magazine to said ball support, means to maintain a ball on said support in such manner that the ball can be pushed off said support to either side thereof, a propelling member mounted to sweep back and forth between two extreme positions through the space occupied by a ball on said support whereby to engage a ball on said support and push the same in either one of two directions off the support, means operable by either carrier, as it approaches its uppermost position, to actuate said propelling member in such direction as to push a ball off said support into said ascending carrier, and means to discharge aball from either carrier as it approaches its lowermost position, whereby a carrier after receiving a ball in its raised position, will descend to unload its contents, and at the same time raise the other carrier in position to actuate the propelling member topush a ball into the latter carrier, and said cycle will be repeated as long as balls are led tosaid support.

6. A ball-operated toy comprising a base, a post, a pair of ball carriers of approximately equal weight, means to guide each of said carriers up and down said post between an uppermost nd a lowermost position, means operable to raise either of said carriers when the other descends,

in such manner that the ball can be pushed off said support to either side thereof, a propelling member mounted to sweep back and forth" through the space occupied by a ball on said support whereby to engage a ball on said support and pushthe same in either one of two directions on" the support, means associated with said propelling member and lying in the path of travel of either carrier as it approaches its uppermost position and movable by said ascending carrier to actuate said propelling member in such direction as to push a ball on said support into said ascending carrier and means to discharge a ball from either carrier as it approaches its lowermost position, whereby a carrier after receiving a ball in its raised position, will descend to unload its contents, and at the same'time raise the other car in position to actuate the propelling member to pushfa ball into the latter car, and said cycle will be repeated as long as balls are led to said support TIA ball-operated toy comprising a, base, a post, a pair of ball carriers of approximately equal weight, means to guide each of said carriers up and down said post between an uppermost and a lowermost position, means operable to raise either of said carriers when the other descends, aball magazine, a ball stop, means to support a ball resting against said stop, means to lead balls one t a time from said magazine to said ball support, means to maintain a ball on said support in such manner that the ball can be pushed off said support to either side thereof, a propelling member mounted to sweep back and forth through the space occupied by a ball on said support whereby to engage a ball on said support and push the same in either one of two directions off the support, a second member associated with said propelling member and movable from either of two extreme positions, upon actuation by either carrier as it approaches its uppermost position, toward the other extreme position, causing said propelling member to push a ball on said support into said ascending carrier, means automatically operable after a ball has been pushed into said ascending carrier to dispose said second member in the extreme position wherein it would be actuated by the other carrier as said other carrier approaches its uppermost position, and means to discharge a ball from either carrier as it approachesits lowermost position, whereby a carrier after receiving a ball in its raised position, will descend to unload its contents, and at the same time raise the other carrier in position to actuate the second member to cause a ball to be pushed into the latter carrier, and said cycle will berepeated as long as balls are led to said support.

8. A ball-operated toy comprising a base, a post, a pair of ball carriers of approximately equal weight, means to guide each of said carriers up and down said post between an uppermost and alowermost position, means operable to raise either of said carriers when the other descends, arball magazine, a ball stop, means to support a ball resting against said stop, means to lead balls one at a time from said magazine to said ball support, means to maintain a ball on said support in such manner that the ball can be pushed off said support to either side thereof, a propelling member mounted to sweep back and forth through the space occupied by a ball on said support whereby to engage a ball on said support and push the same in either one of two directions off the support, means operable by either carrier, as it approaches its uppermost position, to actuate said propelling member in such direction as to push a ball ofi said support into said ascending carrier, means automatically operable after a ball is pushed into an ascending carrier to continue moving said propelling member in the same direction to a position wherein it clears the path of the next ball led to said support, and means to discharge a ball from either carrier as it approaches its lowermost position,' whereby a carrier after receiving a ball in its raised position, will descend to unload its contents, and at the same time raise the other carrier in position to actuate the propelling member to push a ball into the latter carrier, and said cycle will be repeated as long as balls are led to said support. r

9. A ball-operated toy comprising a base, a post,

a pair of ball carriers of approximately equal weight, means to guide each of said carriers up and down said post between an uppermost and a lowermost position, a cable interconnecting said carriers to raise either of said carriers when the other descends, a ball magazine, a ball stop, means to support a ball resting against said stop, means to lead balls one at a time from said magazine to said ball support, means to maintain a ball on said support in such manner that the ball can be pushed ofl said support to either side thereof, a propelling member mounted to sweep back and forth through the space occupied by a ball on said support whereby to engage a ball on said support and push the same in either one of two directions off the support, means operable by either car, as it approaches its uppermost position, to actuate said propelling member in such direction as to push a ball ofi said support into said ascending carrier, and means to discharge a ball fromeither carrier as it approaches its lowermost position, whereby a carrier after receiving a ball in its raised position, will descend to unload its contents, and at the same time raise the other carrier in position to actuate the propelling member to push a ball into the latter carrier, and said cycle will be repeated as long as balls are led to said support.

10. A ball-operated toy comprising a base, a post, a pair of ball carriers of approximately equal weight, means to guide each of said carriers up and down said post between an uppermost and a lowermost position, a cable interconnecting said carriers, said cable passing over a guide disposed above the uppermost positions of said carriers, whereby descent of one of said carriers will raise the other of said carriers, said cable being of such length that as one of said carriers approaches its lowermost position the other carrier will approach its uppermost position, ball magazine, a ball stop, means to support a ball resting against said stop, means to lead balls one at a time from said magazine to said ball support, means to maintain a ball on said support in such manner that the ball can be pushed off said support to either side thereof, a propelling member mounted to sweep back and forth through the space occupied by a ball on said support whereby to engage a ball on said support and push the same in either one of two directions off the support, means operable by either carrier, as it approaches its uppermost position, to actuate said propelling member in'such direction as to push a ball off said support into said ascending carrier, and means to discharge a ball fromeither carrier as it approaches its lowermost position, whereby carrier after receiving a ball in its raised osition, will descend to unload its contents, and at the same time raise the other carrier in position to actuate the propelling member to push a ball into the latter carrier, and said cycle will be repeated as long as balls are led to said support.

11. A ball-operated toy comprising a base, a post, a pair of ball carriers of approximately equal weight, means to guide each of said carriers up and down said post between an uppermost and a lowermost position, a cable interconnecting said carriers, said cable passing over a sheave disposed above the uppermost positions of said carriers, whereby descent of one of said carriers will raise the other of said carriers, said cable being of such length that as one of said carriers approaches its lowermost position the other car will approach its uppermost position, a ball magazine, a ball stop, means to support a ball resting against said stop, means to lead balls one at a time from said magazine to said ball support, means to maintain a ball on said support in such manner able by either carrier, as it approaches its uppermost position, to actuate said propelling member in such direction as to push a ball off said support into said ascending carrier, and means to discharge a ball from either car as it approaches its lowermost position, whereby a carrier after receiving ball in its raised position, will descend tounload its contents, and at the same time raise the other carrier in position to actuate'the propellingmember to push a ball into the latter carrier, and said cycle will be repeated'as long as ballsare led to said support.

'12. A ball-operated toy comprising a base, a post, a pair of ball carriers of approximately equal weight, means to guide each of said carriers up and down saidpost between an uppermost and a lowermost position, means operable to raise either of said carriers when the other descends, aball magazine, a ball stop, means to support a ball resting against said stop, means to lead balls one at a time from said magazine to said ball support, means to maintain a ball on said support in such manner that the ball can be pushed off said support to either side thereof, a propelling member mounted to sweep back and. forth through the space occupied by a ball on said support whereby to engage a ball on said support and push'the same in either one of two directions off the support, a top-heavy member mounted in unstable equilibrium for movement about an axis, saidmember being movable between two extreme positions in which its center of gravity is on opposite sides-of said axis, said top-heavy member being engageable by means associated with either carrier as it approaches its uppermost position to shift the center of gravity of said top-heavy member from one side to the other of said axis, said top-heavy member and said propelling member being so interconnected that as the center of gravity of said top-heavy member is shifted, said propelling member will push a ball on said support into said ascending carrier, and means to discharge a ball from either carrier as it approaches its lowermost position, whereby a carrier after receiving a ball in its raised position, will descend to unload its contents, and at the same time raise the other caraeeoega riervin' position to actuate, the propelling member to push aiball intov thejlatter carriergandi aid cycle will *be-repea'ted as long' as'ballsareifle'd to said support. i Y

13. A ball-operated toy as set forth in claim wherein the top-heavy member is movable" be tween two extreme positionsand disengages' n the gravity-shifting means on a carrier assaid top heavy member approachesone of its ext e positions. g j j 14. A ball-operated toy'as set forth inclaim 2 wherein the top-heavy member is movable'be' tween two extreme positions and'disengages rrqm the gravity-shifting means on a carrier 'a's'the center of gravity of said top-heavy member shifts from one side of its axis to the other side thereof,

15. A ball-operated toy comprising a base,fa post, a pair of ball carriers of approximately equal weight, means to guide each of saidcarriers ball support, means .to maintain a ball on said' support in such manner that the ball can be pushed off said support to either side thereof,.a

propelling member mounted to sweep back and forth through the space occupied by a ball on. said support whereby to engage a ball on said support and push thesame in either one of two direc-" tions off the support, a top-heavy member mounted for oscillation about anaxis above the center of a ball on said support, said propelling member being supported from said top-heavy member and movable therewith,,means on said carriers to en-' gage said top-heavy member as either carrier approachesits uppermost position and to cause movement of said top-heavy member in such direction as to actuate said propelling arm to push a ball ofisaid support into said ascending carrier, said top-heavy member continuing its movement after a ball has been pushed off said support; so as to cause the propelling member to permit another ball to be ledrto said support, and sortsto be in position to be engaged by the'other of said carriers as it ascends, and means to discharge a ball from either carrier as it approaches its lowermost position, whereby a carrier after receiving a ball in its raised position, will descend to unload its contents, and at the same time raise the other carrier in position to actuate the propelling member to push a ball into the latter carrier, and said cycle will be repeated as long as balls are led to said support.

16. A ball-operated toy comprising a feeding station, means to support said station in elevated position, a ball magazine, means to lead balls from said magazine to said feeding station, and a ballpropelling member mounted to sweep through the space occupied by a ball at said station, said 

